For women under the age of 20, brain tumors are the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. For women between the ages of 20 and 39, brain tumors are the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.
Brain tumors, which consist of abnormal cells, can be benign or cancerous. Some brain tumors start in the brain (primary brain tumors), while others start from cancers elsewhere in the body.
The most common symptoms of a brain tumor include headaches, weakness that occurs in one part of the patient’s body, altered mental functions, and seizures, which MedlinePlus noted is more common in older patients.
But what about symptoms of brain tumors in women? Female patients can experience these symptoms, but they should also be aware of the specific symptoms of brain tumors that are more common in women.
Meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor, accounting for 34 percent of cases, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. This type of brain tumor affects the meninges — the membranes which cover the brain and the spinal cord.
Among middle-aged patients, women have a higher prevalence: in meningiomas of the brain, women have it three times more often than men; in meningiomas of the spinal cord, women have it six times more often than men, according to the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
The symptoms of a meningioma depend on its location. For example, a meningioma on the spinal cord can cause back pain or pain in the limbs.
Meningiomas on the underside of the brain, called posterior fossa meningiomas, can compress the cranial nerves, resulting in symptoms such as sharp facial pain, hearing loss, facial muscle spasms, headaches and trouble walking.
If a patient has a sphenoid meningioma, which is located behind the eyes, she can have facial numbness and vision problems. If the meningioma is growing around the eye sockets, called an intraorbital meningioma, the patient can have bulging eyes from pressure and an increasing loss of vision.